I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man
Prince, 1987, from Sign o' the Times. Solo by Prince.
Prince hides one of his most joyful guitar performances inside a bright pop song on Sign o' the Times. The first solo is punchy and rhythmic, full of quick bends and snappy phrases, but the real payoff comes in the long closing section, where he keeps soloing as the band vamps. His tone, from a Hohner Telecaster copy, is clean-edged and slightly overdriven, closer to a rock player than a funk rhythm guitarist. The solo reminded listeners that Prince was a formidable lead guitarist, not just a songwriter and producer. He phrases like a singer, leaving room between lines and returning to melodic hooks. Listen for how the outro solo keeps building in small steps instead of peaking right away.
I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man by Prince is ranked #219 in our consensus of 79 guitar-solo lists. The solo is played by Prince and the song was released in 1987. It appears on 2 lists, placing as high as #45 (NME).
In our lists
- The 25 Greatest Funk and Soul Guitar Solos — #24
- The 25 Greatest Pop Guitar Solos — #18
- The Best Prince Guitar Solos — #6
Sources
- NME: 50 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time — #45
- Guitar Tricks: 200 Best Guitar Solos of All Time — #117
Who played the guitar solo on I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man?
Prince played the solo on Prince's I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man (1987).
What guitar was used on the I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man solo?
A hohner telecaster copy, according to widely reported accounts.
Where does I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man rank among the greatest guitar solos?
#219 in the GreatestSolos consensus of 79 published lists; it appears on 2 of them.